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Curiosities of ancient Rome

The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.

Goddess joke – Venus Cloacina

Forum Romanum is a place where every stone tells a story. Today I will tell you about one of the most inconspicuous relics of Roman civilization that can be found in the Forum – the shrine of Venus Cloacina.

Forum Romanum - remains of the shrine of Venus Cloacina

Roman sculpture showing water nymph

Roman sculpture showing a water nymph that was part of a fountain. The object was probably discovered in Italy and dates back to the 2nd century CE. The artifact is located in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Roman sculpture showing water nymph

Roman sculpture of Diana

Roman sculpture of Diana (Greek Artemis), goddess of hunting and nature. The head was probably part of a statue that could have been up to 3 meters high. The object was discovered in the goddess’s sanctuary at Nemi; dating back to the 2nd century BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman sculpture of Diana

Greek poet on Roman sculpture

Greek poet on a Roman sculpture. The object is a copy of a Greek original from the 4th century BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Greek poet on Roman sculpture

Roman relief showing goddess Minerva

Roman relief showing the goddess Minerva (Greek Athena) holding her helmet and shield. On the back there are symbols of the goddess – an owl and a sacred snake wrapped around an olive tree. The artifact was of a votive nature; is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark). Dated to the 1st century BCE.

Roman relief showing goddess Minerva

Sculpture showing young Roman woman

Sculpture showing a young Roman woman. The object was discovered in Rome and dates back to the 1st century BCE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Sculpture showing young Roman woman

Sculpture showing torso of Hercules

Sculpture showing the torso of Hercules. The object dates back to Roman times and was inspired by the Greek original. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Sculpture showing torso of Hercules

Roman sculpture depicting Satyr

Roman sculpture depicting Satyr. The inscription under the sculpture informs that the full composition depicted a Satyr playing the flute. The object dates back to the 1st century CE. The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Roman sculpture depicting Satyr

Kneeling Parthian

Roman sculpture showing a kneeling Parthian. The object dates back to around 20 BCE and was discovered in Afyonkarahisar (western Türkiye). The artifact is located in Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen (Denmark).

Kneeling Parthian

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